Is the prayer valid behind a man who says that the Qur'an is created and that the one who commits a major sin will remain in the Fire forever, and they are the Ibadis?

The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh: Is the prayer valid behind a man who says that the Qur'an is created and that the one who commits a major sin will remain in the Fire forever, if he is the imam of the mosque?

The Shaykh : What does he say?

The questioner : He says that the Qur'an is created and that the one who commits a major sin will remain in the Fire forever, according to the doctrine of the Ibadis.

The Shaykh : The answer to this is that we say: The prayer behind an imam who is more mindful of Allah is better. If the imam is an innovator, we look at his innovation. If his innovation is one that entails disbelief, then the prayer behind him is not valid, because he is a disbeliever, and a disbeliever has no prayer and no leadership. If his innovation is one that entails open sinfulness, then it is better not to pray behind him, because of the self-deception involved when he sees people praying behind him, and the deception of others by praying behind this man, especially if this man is one who is pointed out as a reference. In that case, one should not pray behind the innovator, even if his innovation is one that entails open sinfulness, so that people are not deceived by praying behind him.